Serving Wilmette Homes: Chimney, Fireplace & Dryer Vent Service

Chimney services Wilmette homeowners can book

We clean, inspect and repair chimneys and fireplaces in Wilmette, and we clean and repair dryer vents. Jobs range from routine sweeping, cap work and leak repair to rebuilding a chimney above the roofline, installing a new fireplace or insert, and servicing gas fireplaces and gas logs.

Larger projects with their own Wilmette pages

Two kinds of larger projects are covered in more detail. Fireplace installation in Wilmette covers adding a new fireplace or replacing an old unit, which suits homeowners who are remodeling, converting fuel types or replacing a worn-out prefab system. Chimney rebuild for homes in Wilmette explains when repairs no longer make sense. Rebuilding is usually considered when a chimney leans, when brick is loose or crumbling, or when the crown and upper courses have failed.

Older chimneys often need smaller work long before a rebuild comes up:

• Eroded or cracked mortar joints, handled with chimney tuckpointing.
• Spalled brick, a cracked crown or other damaged masonry, addressed through chimney masonry repair.
• Leaks, damper trouble or liner problems, covered by our general chimney repair service.
• An open flue that lets in rain, animals or debris, which chimney cap installation is meant to stop.

What Wilmette's housing and preservation records mean for chimney work

Most homes were built before 1970

In Wilmette, 28.6% of housing units were built before 1940 and 45.2% between 1940 and 1969. The median year built is 1957 (source: CMAP Community Data Snapshot, American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates). For homeowners, that means many chimneys have weathered several decades. Masonry chimneys that old commonly show wear at the mortar joints, the crown and the flashing, and their flues may predate current liner practices. An inspection before the first fire of the season, or before buying a home, shows which of these issues apply.

Local landmarks and National Register listings

Wilmette has 38 Local Landmarks protected by its Historic Preservation Ordinance. It also has 3 National Register Historic Districts (Village Center, Oak Circle, Ouilmette North) and 9 individual National Register properties. The Village notes that National Register listing is honorific and does not protect properties from alterations (source: Local Landmarks & National Register Properties | Wilmette, IL). Before exterior chimney work, it helps to know which status a home actually has: a Local Landmark carries review requirements, while National Register listing alone does not limit alterations.

Certificate of Appropriateness for landmark homes

In Wilmette, a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission is required before beginning exterior work on a Wilmette Local Landmark, even when no building permit is required. There is no fee for it. Wilmette's historic preservation planner may issue a Certificate of Appropriateness at staff level for in-kind repairs, maintenance, and replacement of existing features and architectural details on Local Landmarks (source: Applying for a Certificate of Appropriateness, Village of Wilmette, What is a Certificate of Appropriateness PDF). Exterior chimney work on a landmark, such as repointing, crown repair or a cap, should be scheduled after the certificate is in hand. Matching existing brick and mortar in kind is the type of repair the staff-level path is meant for.

Building codes the Village has adopted

Wilmette has adopted the 2018 International Residential Code, the 2018 International Mechanical Code, and the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, each as amended (source: Village Codes | Wilmette, IL). These codes govern how fireplaces, chimneys, venting and gas piping are built. New fireplace installations, gas fireplace and gas line work, and dryer vent runs are planned to meet them, including the Village's amendments.